Table supported article holder



Sept. 24, 1957 s. H. JOHNSON 2,807,371 v TABLE SUPPORTED ARTICLE HOLDER Filed NOV. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Vrvr Q Q Q o" 4 25293323323144.

a 4+ 4 4 3a 45 42 4s 42 ZYN J 48 c 5 3 39 I k v 7- 8 INVENTOR. 572mm .r h. damvsor/ I fryer/M7 34 secured to the side and bottom walls. These members may be of any suitable substantially rigid material such as wood, plastic or stiff cardboard.

The receptacles 27, 28, may be fixedly secured to the ends of the covering member 25 by clamping the latter between the walls 30 and strips 35, the strips being attached to the walls as by screws or rivets 37, Figures 4 and 5. The inner walls 30 are offset from the back edges of their respective side walls 31 to provide side wall flanges 38. The flanges 38 are wider than the combined thickness of the covering 25 and strip 35, so that the latter do not project beyond the inner edges of the side walls. The inner edges of the side walls 31 may be provided with cushioning pads of resilient material, as indicated at 39, to prevent them from engaging, and possibly marring, the finish of the table. Since the rcceptacles 27, 28, are substantially identical, they effec tively counterbalance one another when the article holder is. positioned on a table as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and this counterbalancing effect complements the tractional quality of the covering member 25 in maintaining the article holder in proper position on the table.

While both of the receptacles 27, 28, may be fixedly secured to the covering 25 as above described, it is preferable to have at least one of the receptacles adjustably secured thereto so that the length of the covering between receptacles may be varied to adapt the article holder to tables of various sizes. To this end, the covering member 25 may be formed at one end with a transverse pocket 40, 1

Figures 8 and 9, adapted to receive a rigid strip or batten 41. Secured to the pocket 40 by any suitable means are a pair of straps 42, each strap having fastening elements thereon such as a plurality of male snaps 44 intermediate the ends of the strap, and a female snap 45 at the outer extremity thereof. One of the receptacles, such as receptacle 27, may be provided with a pair of rods 47, 48, whose ends are mounted in the flanges 38 of the receptacle so that the rods are spaced from the inner wall 30, as shown in Figure 8. Rod 47 is positioned adjacent the top of the receptacle 27, while rod 48 is positioned below the mid-point thereof. With this construction, the pocketed end of covering 25 is inserted between wall 30 and rod 47 and pulled downwardly until straps 42 can be looped around rod 48 and fastened to themselves by securing the female snaps 45 to the particular male snaps 44 which permit the covering member to be adjusted to the desired length. The purpose of rod 47 is to prevent the top of the receptacle 27 from tipping away from the table 20 as it would do if it were secured to the covering at the bottom bar 48 only. It will be understood that both receptacles 27, 28, may be detachably secured to the covering member 25 in the manner described, or by a simple snap fastener arrangement, so that the covering may be completely detached if desired for cleaning or replacement.

While it has been stated hereinabove that receptacles 27, 28, are preferably of rigid construction, it will be understood that it is not necessary that every individual element comprising the receptacles be in such form. For example, the invention contemplates a receptacle construction wherein the front or outer wall 34 might be of pliant material, such as fabric or flexible plastic. Similarly, the side walls 31 or bottom member 32 might be of pliant material. The receptacles 27, 28, may also be formed by securing side walls 31 and bottom member 32 directly to downwardly extending extensions of the covering member 25, whereby the covering itself forms the back or inner walls 30 of the receptacles. In this connection, reference may be had to Figures 6 and 7 wherein a modified form of the invention is shown. In this form of the invention, the receptacle is a pocket 50 integrally formed on each end portion of the covering member 25, the side walls 51, front wall 52 and bottom member 54 of this pocket all being of pliant material suitably stitched or otherwise fastened together. To give the pockets 50 rigidity, auxiliary frames 55, Figure 7, are

provided, these frames being adapted to be positioned within the pockets. Frames 55 are preferably formed of substantially inflexible wire 57 and may, if desired, be provided with a substantially solid bottom member 58. This modification of the invention has the particular advantage that in hospitals, or hotels, where it may be necessary to store a large number of article holders, the frames may be removed from the pockets and nested together while the covering members can be compactly rolled up or folded flat.

What I claim is:

l. A table supported article holder comprising a flexible protective covering member adapted to overlie the top of a table with its end portions extending downwardly adjacent the sides thereof, said member having an adjustable fastening means adjacent at least one of its ends including a transverse pocket formed in the member and an elongated stiffening member positioned in said pocket; and a pair of substantially rigid article receiving receptacles respectively secured to said downwardly extending end portions, at least one of said receptacles having means to coact with said adjustable fastening means to permit said receptacle to be adjustably secured to said covering member whereby said article holder may be adapted for use with tables of various sizes.

2. A table supported article holder comprising a flexible sheet material member adapted to substantially cover the top of a table with its end portions extending downwardly adjacent the sides thereof; a pair of substantially rigid open topped article receiving receptacles respectively secured to said downwardly extending end portions of the sheet material member to counterbalance each other and maintain the member in position on said table top; at least one of said receptacles being detachably secured to said sheet material covering member by an adjustable fastening means including stiffened fastening structure extending across one end of said member and means on the receptacle operably engaged by said fastening structure, whereby the length of said sheet material member between receptacles can be adjusted to adapt said article holder for use with tables of various sizes.

3. A table supported article holder comprising a flexible protective covering member adapted to overlie the top of a table with its end portions extending downwardly adjacent the sides thereof; a pair of substantially rigid article receiving receptacles respectively secured to said downwardly extending end portions, each of said receptacles having a rigid inner and outer wall and an Open top, the height of said outer walls being substantially less than the height of said inner walls; resilient cushioning means, on the inner wall of each of said receptacles adapted to engage the table and prevent the receptacles from marring same; at least one of said receptacles being secured to said covering member by structure comprising adjustable fastening means adjacent at least one end of the covering member and including a transverse pocket formed in the member and an elongated stiffening member positioned in said pocket, and means on at least one of said receptacles operably engaged by said adjustable fastening means, whereby said receptacle may be adjustably positioned with respect to said covering member to permit said article holder to be adapted for use with tables of various sizes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 112,819 Leslie Mar. 21, 1871 321,152 Stephens June 30, 1885 437,637 Anderson Sept. 30, 1890 554,843 Smoot Feb. 18, 1896 1,040,016 Robbins Oct. 1, 1912 1,469,133 Wolfe Sept. 25, 1923 1,738,557 Boiling Dec. 10, 1929 1,839,862 Bartlett Jan. 5, 1932 2,061,302 Egler Nov. 17, 1936 2,405,517 Plummer Aug. 6, 1946 

